BMW Sauber F1 Team - Interview with BMW Motorsport Director
Mario Theissen
What went through your mind on the pit wall on Sunday
when you saw Robert Kubica's accident?
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen: "I was unable
to judge the severity of the accident by the initial television
pictures. Then seeing the first impact in the replay gave
us all a huge shock. I was waiting on the pit wall watching
the screens until the rescue work was completed and then went
over to the Medical Center to see Robert. Having established
that he had not suffered any serious injuries, I returned
to the team to tell them the good news and followed the remainder
of the race from the pit wall."
Just over two days after the event, how proud are
you of Nick Heidfeld's second place and the performance of
the team?
Theissen: "I'm really proud of this team. Nick certainly
did not finish second by default. All the incidents in Sunday's
race took place behind him. That second place was his on merit
- he was simply faster than one of the McLarens and both Ferraris."
Finishing on the podium on merit was the team's declared
aim for this season. Is that something you can now cross off
as "job done"?
Theissen: "Our form is very much on an upward curve.
Six races into the season we have collected two points more
than in the whole of 2006. We achieved our aim for the season
for the first time in Montreal in what was the best overall
result so far for the team. But this should not be our only
podium finish of the season."
Robert Kubica made it clear on Monday that he wants
to race in Indianapolis this weekend. What is your position?
Theissen: "It's great that he feels ready to race and
is not experiencing any after-effects from the accident. The
Chief Medical Officer will have the final say after Robert
has been examined in Indianapolis on Thursday. We are prepared
in case Robert will not be able to drive. But, of course,
we are all hoping that he will line up in the car at the weekend.
The ideal scenario for me would be for us all to put the accident
behind us quickly with a good performance in the race."
The Canadian Grand Prix sparked debate about the
extent to which the life-saving safety technology in Formula
One could be transferred to road vehicles. Is there something
there to build on?
Theissen: "The demands involved in series production
are different from those in F1, as are the materials used.
However, the aim is the same - to produce a durable passenger
cell surrounded by crash elements which efficiently absorb
impact energy. Everyday practicality, comfort and manufacturing
costs all play a role in the production of road cars. In Formula
One we do whatever is technically possible. The passenger
cell and restraint systems are tailored to one person. In
a series-produced vehicle, there are four, five or even more
people on board. A road vehicle will generally be built from
steel or aluminium, whereas an F1 monocoque is made of carbon
fibre. While road vehicles have a crumple zone, the passenger
cell of a formula racing car is surrounded by crash elements
and designed to absorb the extreme forces generated by a collision.
Formula One cars have to pass increasingly stringent FIA tests.
And road vehicles also have to come through a large number
of tests before they can go into production."
What will happen now with the wreckage of Kubica's
F1.07?
Theissen: "The chassis will be examined in Hinwil and
we will try to understand as much as possible about the accident.
We will also study the damage in detail to establish if there
are deeper cracks in the material. It is almost impossible
to simulate the type of heavy impact we saw in Canada. However,
the damage profile gives us information we can use to further
refine our calculations and further improve monocoque construction
in the future. At any rate, the damage to the F1.07-07 chassis
is so severe that it will not be used again on the track.
If it can be repaired at all we will use it on the test rig.
If it is totally beyond repair, it will be scrapped."
And how will Robert Kubica get a new car for Indianapolis?
Theissen: "In addition to the T-car, we also had another
spare chassis in Montreal. This F1.07-03 chassis will now
become the second race chassis. We began work on the car in
Canada on Sunday and it will be completed in Indianapolis."
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